The Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL) has taken back its endorsement of state Senator Omar Fateh in his bid for mayor of Minneapolis. This decision comes after the party discovered several issues with the endorsement process that took place at a recent convention.
Omar Fateh, a 35-year-old Democratic socialist whose family immigrated from Somalia, is running against the current mayor, Jacob Frey, in the upcoming election on November 4. Fateh’s campaign is centered on progressive ideals, advocating for police reform, economic justice for marginalized communities, and maintaining Minneapolis as a sanctuary city for various groups.
The controversy began when Fateh claimed victory at the DFL convention following the second round of voting. However, Frey’s campaign contested this result, arguing that the electronic voting system had malfunctioned and that several delegates had been improperly removed or downgraded during the process.
After reviewing the situation, the DFL’s Constitution, Bylaws & Rules Committee found significant flaws in how the voting was conducted. They noted that a candidate, DeWayne Davis, had been incorrectly eliminated from the voting due to errors in tabulating the votes. As a result, the committee decided to vacate the endorsement of Fateh.
The DFL’s findings revealed a range of problems, including issues with delegate credentials and a lack of proper oversight during the voting process. A spokesperson for Frey’s campaign described the initial endorsement of Fateh as “brazen cheating,” emphasizing the need for fair and transparent elections.
The election will use ranked-choice voting, and early voting is set to begin on September 19 and continue until November 3. As the campaign unfolds, both candidates will be working to secure support from voters in Minneapolis.
